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In anesthetized non-domestic ruminants transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) is an alternative method to collect semen slightly less stressful than electroejaculation (EE). However, some sperm characteristics are better when semen is collected with EE than with TUMASG. As anesthesia reduces the response to stressors, the advantages of TUMASG may be reduced in anesthetized...

Identifying the factors that promote the success of biological invasions is a key pursuit in ecology. To date, the link between animal personality and invasiveness has rarely been studied. Here, we examined in the laboratory how Argentine ant populations from the species’ native and introduced ranges differed in a suite of behaviours related to species interactions and the use of space. We found correlations...

Transrectal ultrasonic-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) is an alternative technique for sperm collection which decreases negative animal welfare concerns of electroejaculation. However, quality of collected sperm with TUMASG is less than that collected by electroejaculation. Utilisation of TUMASG may not, however, induce strong muscular contractions, so administration of oxytocin...

Background Reproductive division of labor in eusocial insects is a striking example of a shared genetic background giving rise to alternative phenotypes, namely queen and worker castes. Queen and worker phenotypes play major roles in the evolution of eusocial insects. Their behavior, morphology and physiology underpin many ecologically relevant colony-level traits, which evolved in parallel in multiple...

Polydomy associated with unicoloniality is a common trait of invasive species. In the invasive Argentine ant, colonies are seasonally polydomous. Most follow a seasonal fission–fussion pattern: they disperse in the spring and summer and aggregate in the fall and winter. However, a small proportion of colonies do not migrate; instead, they inhabit permanent nesting sites. These colonies are large and...

The dynamic in Argentine ant colonies varies seasonally, influenced by biotic and abiotic factors. In winter the spatial range of the colony is contracted in large formations (winter nests) containing a large number of queens and workers. Winter nests are the clue to the species’ dispersion power and the invasion of new habitats. For this reason a yearly elimination of queens and workers in winter...

Ants are good indicators of ecosystem health and therefore a good choice for rapid terrestrial bioassessments (RBAs) in land management. However, the application of these rapid protocols is unfeasible until efficient sampling methodologies adapted to management goals have been developed. Taking into account the need to improve tools to synthesize broad-scale RBA, the aim of this study is to search...

Pine forests on the northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula have a long history of use, exploitation, and management. Current management practices consist of selective logging with relatively short periods of time between logging events. The main objective of this study is to detect changes in ant assemblages in the short time periods between selective logging activities. Ants were sampled at 44...

To address the lack of physiological approaches in current models assessing the potential distribution of the Argentine ant, we used data on brood development from distinct sources to evaluate a series of degree-day models for Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula), and data on the brood survival and oviposition rates to develop a worker production model. The degree-day model generated using data from Newell...

Data concerning the influence of temperature on a species’ physiological parameters can be a useful tool for predicting its potential distribution range, but in the case of the Argentine ant, data based on its physiological needs are too scarce and incomplete to make accurate predictions of this type. In the present study, we offer new and complete data concerning the Argentine ant queen's oviposition...

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